EU lawmakers strip Le Pen of immunity

STRASBOURG, FRANCE – The European Parliament on Tuesday lifted immunity for French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, opening the way for her to face charges for likening the sight of Muslims praying in the street to Nazi occupation during World War II.

The far-right leader, who was present for the vote in the Parliament’s chamber in Strasbourg along with her father and National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, told France’s BFMTV that the vote was a violation of her freedom of expression. “I will now defend myself in court and I am absolutely convinced that it will rule in my favor and defend my right to tell the French the truth about the situation,” she said.

Prosecutors in Lyon in central France are investigating Le Pen for alleged incitement to racial hatred over the remarks she made in a speech to National Front supporters in 2010.